"Congratulations, Host. Sign-in completed. Loading progress bar initiated. Exiting midway will be considered a failed sign-in."
Early in the morning, Senju Haruto was jolted awake by a voice echoing right next to his ear. Almost immediately afterward, the familiar sign-in assistant's progress bar began to appear in his mind.
1%23%
"Hm?" Haruto frowned, recalling that today's was a special sign-in task.
"So it triggered after intimidating the Uchiha Clan last night?" he muttered to himself.
As part of the Third Hokage's direct ANBU forces, Kakashi would never delay delivering critical information to Hiruzen Sarutobi. For a ninja, intel often outweighed one's own life in importance.
It seemed the intimidation had worked perfectly—so perfectly that it erased Hiruzen's lingering doubts and made him abandon the idea of sacrificing Hiashi Hyuga.
That, in turn, must have triggered his sign-in reward.
Haruto's drowsiness vanished instantly. His attention locked on the progress bar as excitement built inside him.
66%79%100%
"Congratulations, Host. Sign-in complete. Reward: Genjutsu Immunity. Special Addition: Byakugan."
Haruto: "!!!"
"Two rewards?!"
He blinked, eyes lighting up. Then, in one smooth motion, he leapt off the bed.
The first ability alone was enough to make him ecstatic—complete immunity to all genjutsu meant that techniques like Tsukuyomi and Kotoamatsukami—infamously difficult to break—would no longer affect him.
The next time he faced Uchiha Itachi, he could look him straight in the eyes without fear. In fact, they could have a "first to blink loses" contest.
Without hesitation, Haruto rummaged through his drawer and pulled out a small mirror.
The second reward was the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan. Unlike the Sharingan, however, the Byakugan couldn't be toggled off—it was obvious even in its inactive state.
Fortunately, the Byakugan gifted by the sign-in assistant was… different.
Staring into the mirror, Haruto noticed that his pupils remained their normal black, sharp and clear. His gaze had depth—murderous depth.
His eyes drifted to the rest of his face.
When he'd first transmigrated, he'd looked rather boyish. Although the Senju Clan had long declined, wealth had never been an issue—plenty of meat and hearty meals had left him with a trace of baby fat.
But after years of relentless training and growth, his appearance had matured noticeably.
If the kunoichi of the village saw him now, would they be smitten at first sight?
"Not that it matters—I'm not interested in women," Haruto mused, shaking his head in mock pity for the kunoichi who might waste their affections on him.
Then, he activated the Byakugan.
His pupils turned pure white, the veins around his temples bulged, and his field of vision expanded instantly—three hundred and sixty degrees. No blind spots.
The sensation was… surreal.
But then—
He noticed a group of people approaching his home.
"Visitors already?"
Haruto deactivated the Byakugan just as his front door was slammed open.
Shff! Shff! Shff!
Several black-clad figures darted inside, moving into formation.
And then… a man Haruto knew all too well strolled in with unhurried steps.
Shimura Danzō.
The man who, in the history of Konoha, had claimed more blame than anyone else.
The "Shadow Hokage."
"Hm?" Danzō's eyes swept the room and quickly landed on Haruto, who was still holding the mirror.
A frown creased Danzō's face. Before coming here to recruit Haruto, he had already seen through Hiruzen's ploy—Haruto was undoubtedly a powerful asset Hiruzen had cultivated in secret.
Ordering Root to storm the house had been a test—to see how Haruto would react to a sudden intrusion.
After all, this was the same man who had wiped out his own assassination squad without even revealing his Mokuton.
Truly… unfathomable.
"A mirror, is it?"
Danzō took a step back, signaling his Root operatives to shield him. In his mind, that mirror was no ordinary trinket—it could be a disguised ninja tool.
No way this guy was just looking at his own reflection first thing in the morning. What was he, a teenage girl?
And yet, Haruto's calm, confident aura was undeniable.
"What do you plan to do with that?" Danzō demanded.
"I woke up handsome—problem?" Haruto said flatly, placing the mirror on the table.
Danzō: "???"
"So tell me," Haruto continued, "why surround my home at dawn?"
Danzō had probably learned about last night's events before morning. Still, Haruto hadn't expected him to come barging in so early.
If Danzō wanted to fight here, though… Haruto wasn't worried. The Uchiha Clan hadn't been massacred yet—Danzō should only have Shisui's eye at this point.
And genjutsu? Completely useless on him now.
As for those Hashirama cells on Danzō's arm… ha.
Seeing Haruto unshaken, Danzō's thoughts grew complicated. Most people faced with this kind of show of force would be nervous or defensive.
"I'm not here as your enemy," Danzō finally said, raising his hand to signal Root to lower their guard—but not leave. "I'm here to form an alliance."
The words caught Haruto off guard. He'd expected an assassination attempt, not… recruitment.
Although with this kind of entrance, was Danzō really trying to recruit him?
Haruto scanned the twenty-something Root operatives in the room.
"I understand Lord Tobirama's philosophy better than Hiruzen," Danzō said. "Your Mokuton should be used along the correct path—to become the root that protects the village."
Haruto's face darkened. "You make it sound nice."
"So you agree?"
"I refuse." Haruto shook his head without hesitation. This man really thought Haruto had forgotten the assassination attempt?
"I see…"
Danzō didn't look disappointed. Instead, he ordered the Root outside to secure the perimeter.
Then… he slowly removed the bandages covering his right eye.